The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) is now accepting nominations for the 2012 “PRIDE” and “Globe Awards.” These annual competitions honor U.S. transportation construction industry excellence in community relations and public education, and in environmental protection, respectively.

Established in 1999, the PRIDE Awards program celebrates excellence in community relations and public education of projects that enhance the image of the transportation design and construction industry. It is open to all industry firms, agencies and associations. There are two categories:

Community Relations: honors programs and activities that demonstrate positive civic involvement with the community in which a firm/agency is located.

Public-Media Relations/Education: pays tribute to programs and activities that educate the public and opinion leaders about the significant contributions the transportation construction industry (or a specific sector of it) makes to the economy and/or quality of life.

Established in 1998, the Globe Awards highlight examples of transportation construction industry excellence in these categories:

Project Awards: recognizes private-sector firms and public-sector transportation agencies that do an outstanding job in protecting and/or enhancing the natural environment in the planning, design and construction of U.S. transportation infrastructure projects. Nominations may be made for projects in the following seven categories: highways, local or secondary roads, bridges, public transit, airports, railroads­, and waterways and ports.

Applications for PRIDE Awards must be received at the ARTBA-TDF by March 9, and applications for Globe Awards must be received by March 23.To inquire about the awards program or obtain a copy of the application forms, visit www.artbatdf.org or contact ARTBA’s Awards Program Manager Holly Bolton at 202-289-4434.

Awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the 2012 ARTBA Federal Issues Program, held May 29-30 in Washington, D.C.

The ARTBA-TDF Awards are designed to focus public attention on the many positive contributions the transportation construction industry makes to the U.S. economy and quality of life.